PEOPLE EVENTS
PLACES
WESTMINSTER HALL
Over 900 years of history... LYING IN STATE Westminster Hall is the oldest remaining part of the The Hall has been used for the original Palace of Westminster and has great historical lyings-in-state of and architectural importance. It has witnessed many monarchs and great parliamentarians, events during its 900 year history, including fire, dramatic including George legal trials and coronation banquets. It has even been a V, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, shopping arcade and has housed law courts. Today it is William Ewart used for ceremonial addresses and public exhibitions. Gladstone and Sir Winston Churchill. Building the Hall The hammer-beam roof The Hall was commissioned The magnificent hammer-beam BEHEADED Oliver Cromwell’s in 1097 under William II roof of Westminster Hall is the head was impaled (Rufus), the son of William the largest medieval timber roof in on a spike on Conqueror, and was completed Northern Europe. Measuring Westminster Hall’s two years later. At the time, 20.7 by 73.2m, the roof was roof after his body was exhumed and the Hall was by far the largest commissioned in 1393 by decapitated in hall in England, and probably in Richard II and is a masterpiece 1661 by Charles Europe, measuring 73m by 20m, of design. II’s supporters, covering a floor area of 1547m. following the The design work was undertaken restoration of by the King’s chief mason Henry the monarchy. It The Hall’s walls were built two Yevele and by carpenter Hugh remained there for metres thick. Inside, there was Herland. Great oak beams at least 20 years. an arcade with large arches and provided horizontal support and windows. Above the windows the walls were strengthened was a chequer-work pattern of by massive buttresses. Wooden light and dark stones. The Hall’s arches joined to the beams met inside walls were plastered and centrally across a span of 18m painted with decorative hangings or more. draped from the arcade. Craftsmen then built the roof with its The Hall in danger weight borne by the beams which were in In 1834, a fire started in the House of turn supported by the buttressed walls. Lords and spread northwards towards the Hall, destroying existing buildings in its Richard II commissioned other additions path and threatening the Hall’s wooden to the Hall, including angels carved on roof. The Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, beams and sculptures of England’s kings quickly directed efforts to douse the roof since Edward the Confessor, complete with with water, saving the Hall although much gilded crowns and painted robes. of the Palace’s other buildings were lost
A royal palace In May 1941, on the last day of the blitz, The Hall played an important role in royal both the House of Commons Chamber life through the centuries. Feasts and and Westminster Hall were hit by entertainments were held there with incendiary bombs. A decision was made masques, music, dancing and jousting once again to concentrate efforts on taking place in front of hundreds of saving the medieval Hall at the cost of the guests. Chamber which was completely destroyed.
Between 1189 and 1821, the Hall was the Trials in Westminster Hall traditional venue for coronation banquets The Hall has witnessed many high-profile for newly-crowned monarchs. Richard legal trials, including Sir William Wallace III’s coronation banquet was attended by the Scottish patriot, Sir Thomas More 3000 guests with galleries specially built to adviser to Henry VIII, Guy Fawkes and accommodate them. The King’s champion the Gunpowder Plot conspirators, all of rode through the Hall on horseback, whom were sentenced to death. The most challenging anyone to deny the King’s famous trial held in the Hall was the trial right to succeed. of Charles I who was sentenced to death there on 27 January 1649. On becoming King in 1830, William IV chose not to hold a coronation banquet The Royal Courts of Justice were based in the Hall on the grounds of expense and in Westminster Hall until moving to the tradition ended. the building they currently occupy on The Strand in 1882. Alongside the law courts, there were shops selling legal paraphernalia, wigs, pens and stationery.
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